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Thread: New grow tank started at last.
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20-02-2019, 10:00 PM #61
Thanks Frim. Heater thermostat controller is all built, and is fitted in a nice little plastic housing, all wired up and running on the IBC tank since late November. .
And out of interest the standard domestic immersion stat goes down to 20c
Before I set up the bespoke digital stat and controller I just used that. I set it on the minimum 20c and it only brought up my 1000L in the IBC to 16c, moved it between 20and 25 and it brought temp up to 20 and was very stable.
But then I got the other stat wired in.
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20-02-2019, 10:11 PM #62
20 degrees C well I've obviously not looked close enough at them Steve, probably because I have always set them at 50 - 60 degrees C in the past. Used to set them at 70 degrees C but that would cause problems with it being too hot and had a tendency to create a lot of limescale in the tank.
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09-03-2019, 03:08 PM #63
Hi Guys
Sorry I have not been on here for a couple of weeks, I changed my ISP and had to set up a new email account and had a bit of trouble updating the address used on the forum so couldn't make posts.
Anyway, that is all sorted, so I thought I should update you on my grow tank.
What have I done to it? Nothing. Sorry no, nothing more has happened since I was last on here. LOL.
A few reasons for that, I had issues with my existing IBC, the small shower filter was not being able to cope with the waste and a bad algae build up. I sort of happened all of a sudden. It was in the sunny weather a couple of weeks back. The pH started dropping slowly, it did not crash, but every day when I tested it was a tad lower. Also, the KH was dropping. I had a hint of ammonia and nitrite. The foams in the top box of the shower filter were clogging up every 3 days, I could no longer see the bottom of the IBC and there were particles of crap in moving about in the water.
One option was move everything over to the almost complete new tank, but i was worried about that, I really wanted to get it all running, tested and primed with some active media and a few sacrificial fish.
So instead, I set up a couple of the filter barrels that were ready for the new tank, onto the IBC. I changed the 1500 Lp/h pump for a 3000Lp/h with a split outlet so I could continue to run the shower, but push water to the DIY vortex, through a second barrel filter then into the IBC
Oh, I also picked up a UV to sort out the algae.
Its all been running for a few days, water is clear as crystal, but I cannot attribute it all to filtration as having an additional 400L of volume added in the barrel filters, a big volume increase on the 850L in an IBC, plus the normal trickle water changes, but even so, I am amazed how well the vortex works and the larger pump keeps the IBC bottom clear of solids, so I have not ever needed to vacuum it since.
It is however still temporary, I do want to move over to a larger tank. But I am having second thoughts on its placement. I know I have already built it, even has water in it, but, in all the warm sunny weather of a couple of weeks ago it was evident the room I have the IBC in warms up beautifully as there is a large widow and the room is well insulated. In contrast, the room where I have just built the new grow tank, was bloody freezing on those sunny days. The two small windows allow no radiated heat and little light. I can see me having to heat this big tank even in the summer.
So, I have an old mobile home on the farm. That has plenty of windows, and was re-insulated with Kingspan in ceiling, walls and floor many years back when my stepson lived in it. It has since been gutted of walls and fittings and is now one large store room.
I think this will be better for the fish. But it is still on its original light caravan chassis, with caravan levelling legs, so not suitable as it is to take the weight a 3000 plus litres of water. But, watch this space.
Here are some pics.
IMG_E2468.jpgIMG_E2469.jpgIMG_E2394.jpgIMG_E2405.jpg
Pic below is looking inside the vortex, this is only 2 days of muck, but hopefully you can see its working well.
IMG_E2386.jpgIMG_E2389.jpg
Steve.Last edited by Dudley; 09-03-2019 at 03:23 PM.
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09-03-2019, 06:02 PM #64
Hi Dudley, koi looking really good growing well and some lovely colours coming through.
I am a big fan of the vortex and they do work well having one on my grow on and the shit that collects on the bottom is unbelievable.
How many have you now?John
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freddyboy, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
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09-03-2019, 06:31 PM #65
I got a little lazy with casualty recording once I got through new tank syndrome and everything settled down. I stopped doing the daily water recordings and so did not write down the casualties either. basically because I only then had the odd one die here and there, and they were always the ones that never really grew anyway.
I would say 80 - 90 at least still.
But I am very pleased with the growth.
Steve.
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09-03-2019, 06:33 PM #66
Looks like you have some nice fish there, I love the idea of a home made filter setup, agree with you John, vortex is a brilliant invention, simple and effective
4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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09-03-2019, 06:49 PM #67
Thanks Roy
Probably none going to be show fish but I am please with the variety of colour I got from New Forest Koi. My idea to select about 10-15 varied specimens for my pond wont be a problem, my problem will be resisting selecting 30 or more.
As regard the vortex, it was simple to build and swirls really well. I love looking down into it and watching the bits come in gradually drop to the bottom. I don't know if it would be so effective if I had not used a 210L barrel. Its got quite a bit of depth to it so the water has plenty of time going around before it gets up to the outlet, Its 1200 mm tall.
Steve
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09-03-2019, 08:05 PM #684600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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09-03-2019, 09:59 PM #69
I think you have some lovely fish there and you have done really well to get so many to this stage.
As you say Steve it starts to get harder now they are getting bigger got to be a much larger tank now..John
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Best plants to remove Nitrate
pug has a very impressive veg filter on his pond, have a look at some of his his youtube videos....